Austin Reaves has come a long way from his undrafted roots. The Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard, who once had to fight for minutes, is now making headlines with his recent performances. Just look at his recent numbers: 51 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists vs Sacramento; 28 points and 16 assists against Minnesota; 26 points and 11 assists against Miami. The numbers demonstrate his significant growth, and his peers are starting to take notice.

Veteran Warriors forward Draymond Green recently addressed Reaves’ career surge on the Draymond Green Show, saying, “Man, Austin Reaves is having an incredible year. He done had a 50 ball, he done had a 40 ball, close to triple-doubles, if not a triple-double. I saw tonight he had 20 plus and 10 assists. I mean, he’s playing incredible basketball, and obviously in line for a huge payday come next summer.” The comment lands heavier coming from Green. When Draymond, the ultimate competitor, calls someone out for elite play, it’s not hype, but an acknowledgement.

He didn’t stop there, adding, “He should be in conversation for everything – All-Star, big-time payday, like you name it. He’s been improving every year… He’s becoming one of the guys in this league, a tough matchup for everybody.” Coming from someone who’s built a reputation for defending the most elite scorers in the NBA, it’s a signal that Reaves is quickly becoming one of the most potent offensive engines the game has to offer.

Green also explained how Reaves has become an all-around offensive player. “The shot making ability is incredible,” he said. “He’s getting it at all three levels. Mid-range, finishing at the rim, shooting a three, and then also getting to the foul line. So, you know, the mixture of the offensive pot that he’s cooking up, it’s not just like, oh man, you take the three away, he done. Like he’s doing it at every level. And if you look at the great scorers around this league, they do it at every level.”

What makes this stretch even more remarkable is Austin Reaves’ efficiency leap. His Player Efficiency Rating (PER) has surged from a career-best 18.1 last season to 26.3, driven by improved true shooting and smarter shot selection. The advanced numbers back up the eye test- the Lakers post a +24.2 net differential per 100 possessions with him on the floor, a staggering on-off impact.

Reaves currently leads the league in total assists (65), ranks second in total points (218), 10th in total steals, and sits fourth in true shooting percentage (.687). Calling this an All-Star campaign might actually undersell it- Reaves is playing at an MVP-caliber level through the opening weeks of the season.

Dray also credited Lakers head coach JJ Redick, saying that “JJ’s infused a ton of confidence in Austin Reaves.” Redick’s system has allowed Reaves to operate freely, becoming a secondary ball-handler alongside superstar Luka Doncic as LeBron James shifts to a more off-ball role.

Austin has delivered, averaging 31.1 points and 9.3 assists this season, building key chemistry with Doncic as James misses time due to sciatica.

However, this is where things become complicated. The better Reaves gets, the more expensive he gets. Retaining him from a crowded market is a challenge that LA must quickly figure out.

Insider Says Austin Reaves Is All In on LA, For Now

According to veteran NBA insider Marc Stein, there are “sharks in the water” monitoring Austin Reaves’ status with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he also added that there’s “no sense he’s looking anywhere else than L.A. as of now.” Rival teams are circling LA, but Reaves isn’t entertaining exits—at least not yet.

Currently, the Lakers have him under a guaranteed contract for this year, receiving $13.9 million (a steal). Reaves does have a player option worth $14.8 million that he can opt out of next offseason, which would make him a free agent.

The same production that has made his contract a bargain will demand a much higher price, with some speculating he could earn as much as $240.7 million on a long-term deal.

For now, LA does retain the option to extend him before the contract extension deadline. However, the most he can be given is a four-year, $87.4 million contract.

Instead, Reaves will likely opt out of his option, but he’s not expected to take the full eligible amount. In a previous interview, Reaves had stated a desire to stay in LA, saying, “It’s not like we’re trying to just whack ’em over the head for more money than what I deserve. We just want to get what we feel like I’ve put the work in to get.”

Because of this, some insiders believe that Reaves will instead opt for a five-year, $140 million deal to return to the Lakers. For now, what remains to be seen is how successful the team can be, and if they can secure a potential superstar in the making.